So tonight I spoke w the head of Emergency Medicine at Langone NYU and I want to pass along some important takeaways from our segment about What To Do If You Feel Ill...
Naturally, people feeling they have flu-like symptoms that may be COVID-19 want to be tested, but the reality is: at this point that is neither a realistic possibility nor a medical priority.
His advice: if you're in a low-risk group and feel symptoms, self-isolate. Monitor your temperature. Drink plenty of fluids and take ibuprofen. Stay away from people and just rest up as if you had the flu.
If your conditions worsen, seek contact with your doctor, ideally through telemedicine of some kind. But don't expect a test, and DO NOT go to medical centers seeking one, unless you have concern you need urgent care or emergency medicine.
If you're in a high risk group -- 60+, immune compromised, other pre-existing conditions and comorbitidies -- self-isolate and immediately contact your physician.
The only people who should be going to the ER are people who have urgent symptoms (including by not limited to trouble breathing). We need to keep the ER's clear and right now testing simply is not a priority for the path we're on, in terms of managing the virus.
Important correction: Reed Caldwell (who I spoke to) is Assistant Professor of Emergency Health at NYU Langone not the head of it!
